Rolex 6105

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6105 Black Gilt Dial Ovettone

Released to celebrate Rolex's 40th anniversary in 1945, the Rolex Datejust has become one of the Genevan Giant's most iconic watches. The world's first wristwatch to display the date via an aperture on the dial, the Datejust revolutionized wristwatch design for decades to follow. With its emblematic Cyclops lens, jubilee bracelet (designed specifically for the model in 1945), and classy fluted precious metal bezel, the Datejust's aesthetic has always been that of pure elegance and class. Perhaps one of Rolex's most recognizable designs, the Datejust has evolved from its dressier roots into a perfectly capable timepiece rivaling the robustness of most brand's sports watches. However, before the “Datejust” name became as ubiquitous with Rolex as it is now, the ref. 6105 was launched in the mid-1940s as an extension of the Oyster Perpetual collection, but with the addition of a date function at 3 o’clock, like a precursor to the Datejust. A large watch for its time, the ref. 6105 sports a 36mm diameter case, but thanks to its bubbleback, the ref. 6105 earned the nickname “Ovettone” meaning “big egg” in Italian. This enlarged case made room for the ref. 6105’s newly introduced date wheel module on the movement and thereby allowed it to precede one of watchmaking’s most iconic models. Featuring a beautiful black dial with gold dauphine hands and gold dagger-shaped applied hour markers, this ref. 6105's gilt inscriptions pair perfectly with the aesthetic of the rest of its dial. Meaning "big egg" in Italian, the "Ovettone" nickname refers to a small number of early Datejust references that feature a large 36mm case alongside a protruded ‘bubble back’ which was included to provide space for the newly introduced date wheel module on the movement. Furthermore, this example features a kind of precursor to the fluted bezel that we know today, as it seems to blend a modern fluted bezel with a coin-edge bezel. This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.